The Pittsburgh Pirates had the Los Angeles Dodgers right where they wanted them Tuesday night at PNC Park — and then the seventh inning happened.
Pittsburgh actually led 2-0 after the first, with Ryan O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds each going deep off Eric Lauer. Paul Skenes was dealing — going six full innings, striking out seven, and keeping LA off the board for the most part. The Pirates were in great shape heading into the late innings.
Then it all fell apart. The Dodgers sent thirteen batters to the plate in the seventh inning — erupting for ten runs to turn a close game into a 12-3 laugher. Wilber Dotel couldn’t retire a single batter — surrendering five hits, a homer, six runs, and a walk without recording an out. Brandan Bidois came in and couldn’t stop the bleeding — walking three and allowing four more runs.
Andy Pages went deep and drove in three for Los Angeles. Shohei Ohtani doubled and knocked in two. Max Muncy went three-for-five. The Dodgers pounded out fifteen hits and went six-for-eighteen with runners in scoring position.
Skenes deserved better. His night was solid. The bullpen simply gave it all away.
Game two of the series is tonight at PNC Park — first pitch at 6:40pm EDT with the radio pregame at 6″15pm on WESB Sports, B107.5 FM.
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